Potential faculty strike grows more likely for Pa. State System of Higher Education

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A strike is becoming more likely for faculty at the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities as the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties grows impatient with the lack of progress made after nearly two years of contract talks.

The union voted in November to authorize their leaders to call a strike, and they are now discussing when a potential strike would be most effective, with Feb. 5--the day Gov. Tom Corbett introduces his 2013-2014 budget plan--being a likely choice.

The two sides meet again Friday and have one more bargaining session scheduled between then and the beginning of the spring semester on Jan. 28, so there's still a chance that an agreement can prevent the first faculty strike in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's 30-year history.

From the article:

Disconcerting as it might be for the 115,000 students attending the state universities, including Shippensburg and Millersville, the word “strike” is being used more frequently in reference to the status of contract talks with the faculty.The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, the union representing 5,500 professors, appears to be getting impatient with the failure to achieve a settlement after two years of talks with managers at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. ...